WEBVTT THE STRAND THEATER HAS BECOME APLATTSBURGH LANDMARK, DRAWINGTHOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN TO SEEALL SORTS OF SHOWS EVER SINCERE-OPENING IN 2015.THE THEATER HAD BEEN CLOSED FORMORE THAN A DECADE BUT WITH THEHELP OF STATE AND FEDERALFUNDING, ITS $4 MILLIONRESTORATION IS NEARLY COMPLETE.>> A COMMUNITY WHO TRULY WISHESTO THRIVE MUST HAVE A THRIVINGARTS AND CULTURAL SCENE. REPORTER: AND IN THE NORTHCOUNTRY, IT IS THRIVING, BUT INCOMMUNITIES NATION-WIDE, SEVERAL-POLITICIANS ARGUE THE ARTS COULDTAKE A HIT, IF PRESIDENT DONALDTRUMP'S BUDGET PROPOSAL PASSES.>> MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVEACCESS TO ARTS AND HUMANITIESHERE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY ISFUNDAMENTAL TO OUR FAMILIES TOOUR STUDENTS TO OUR COMMUNITYREPORTER: SENATOR KIRSTENGILLIBRAND WAS JOINED BY OTHERLAWMAKERS AT THE STRAND TO CALLON THE SENATE TO REJECTPRESIDENT TRUMP'S BUDGETPROPOSAL.WHY?BECAUSE IT ZEROS OUT FUNDING FORTHE NATIONAL ENDOWMENTS FOR THEARTS AND HUMANITIES THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLICBROADCASTING OR PBS, AND THEINSTITUTE FOR MUSEUM AND LIBRARYSCIENCES.>> IF WE GET RID OF THESEAGENCIES IT WOULD TRULY BEDEVASTATING TO COMMUNITIES LIKETHIS ONE BECAUSE THESE AREFUNDAMENTAL FUNDING PROGRAMS FORARTS ACROSS THE NATION. REPORTER: GILLIBRAND SAYS THEFUNDING IS CRUCIAL TO HELPINGTHE ARTS SURVIVE IN RURALCOMMUNITIES, WHERE THERE MAY NOTBE A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNTIES IT'S SOMETHING THE STRAND CENTERDIRECTOR JOSHUA KRETZER ISPASSIONATE ABOUT.THE STRAND CENTER THEATER HASBEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MAJORECONOMIC DRIVER NOT ONLY FOR THECITY OF PLATTSBURGH BUT FOR THEENTIRE ADIRONDACK COASTREPORTER: THAT'S WHY HE WAS SOENCOURAGED TO HEAR WHAT SENATORGILLIBRAND HAD TO SAY.HE HOPES MORE POLITICIANS FOLLOWHER LEAD, SO THE CURRENT FEDERALBUDGET GETS THE BOOT, ANDPERHAPS THE NEW ONE, WILL BE A

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand spoke in Plattsburgh Friday morning about President Donald Trump's proposal to slash public funding for the arts.

Gillibrand spoke at the Strand Theater.

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During her event, Gillibrand called on the senate to reject Trump's budget proposal, which cuts public funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities.

“The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanitiesallow families and community organizations to help give our children the chanceto experience and learn about art, music, dance, language, and literature,” Gillibrand said. “If these programs are taken away, it would particularly hurt rural communities and small towns like those throughout the North Country."

The endowment also provides funding for students to visit museums and programming on PBS.

Gillibrand said she and nearly two dozen other Democratic and Republican senators have sent a letter to Trump expressing their concern about his proposed budget cuts.

The Stand played host as an example of being an economic driver in the Adirondacks. It recently completed a $4 million renovation, half of which was provided by the state and federal governments.

"A community who truly wishes to thrive must have a thriving arts and cultural scene. Also, grants from the New York State Council on the Arts help subsidize arts and education programming and general operating expenses which enable us to best serve our community," Krester said. "I would like to thank Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer for not only advocating for initiatives which have and continue to benefit the Strand Center for the Arts, but also arts and cultural initiatives throughout New York State."

The NEA and NEH has an annual budget of $148 million each. New York institutions received almost $30 million in grants from both organizations in 2016.

“While there are savings to be found in every federal agency, I do not support the President's initial budget proposal, especially the proposed cuts to the State Department, the Department of Education, and the EPA," Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik said. "Furthermore, the President's budget would cut many important individual programs to our district."